MISTiC Winds, a Micro-Satellite Constellation Approach to High Resolution Observations of the Atmosphere using Infrared Sounding and 3D Winds Measurements: a Summary of Risk Reduction Testing

摘要

MISTiC Winds is an approach to improve short-term weather forecasting based on a miniature high resolution, widefield, thermal emission spectrometry instrument that will provide global tropospheric vertical profiles of atmospherictemperature and humidity at high (3-4 km) horizontal and vertical ( 1 km) spatial resolution. MISTiC’s extraordinarilysmall size, payload mass of less than 15 kg, and minimal cooling requirements can be accommodated aboard an ESPAClass(50 kg) micro-satellite. Low fabrication and launch costs enable a LEO sun-synchronous sounding constellationthat would provide frequent IR vertical profiles and vertically resolved atmospheric motion vector wind observations inthe troposphere. These observations are highly complementary to present and emerging environmental observingsystems, and would provide a combination of high vertical and horizontal resolution not provided by any otherenvironmental observing system currently in operation. The spectral measurements that would be provided by MISTiCWinds are similar to those of NASA’s Atmospheric Infrared Sounder. These new observations, when assimilated intohigh resolution numerical weather models, would revolutionize short-term and severe weather forecasting, save lives,and support key economic decisions in the energy, air transport, and agriculture arenas–at much lower cost thanproviding these observations from geostationary orbit. In addition, this observation capability would be a critical tool forthe study of transport processes for water vapor, clouds, pollution, and aerosols. Risk reduction investments by NASAESTO and BAE Systems have supported an airborne demonstration of this hyperspectral observing method from aNASA ER2, as well as laboratory testing of the spectrometer. The purpose of these airborne tests is to examine thepotential for improved capabilities for tracking atmospheric motion-vector wind tracer features, and determining theirheight using hyper-spectral sounding and imaging methods. Some of the hyperspectral observations from flights inDecember 2017 will be described, together with satellite and radiosonde observations similar in time and location.Critical laboratory test results will also be described.